Civil War Veterans in Australia

Edward John Brady was born in County Clare, Ireland, baptized Feb. 26, 1830. After migrating to the United States Brady was inducted into the U.S. Army, prior to the Civil War, by Lt. Winfield Hancock on June 3, 1854, into Company A of the 6^th. U.S. Infantry Regiment at St. Louis; Missouri for a period of 5 years. On November 1, 1858 Brady injured his left leg while he was engaged in hauling wagons over the Sierra Nevada mountains in California and was awarded a disability discharge, on August 4, 1859.

Upon the outbreak of Civil War, the 12th Regiment, New York State Militia had sailed from New York for Fortress Monroe, Virginia on April 21, 1861, arriving on April 23^rd; then it moved to Annapolis and Washington, D. C. and was assigned to Mansfield's Command. Although an invalid pensioner, he enlisted in Company B of the 12th New York Militia Regiment; mustering in as a Corporal on May 2, 1861 but being reduced in rank to Private, on June 1^st.

On May 23^rd the regiment advanced into Virginia and occupied Arlington Heights, Virginia on May 24^th; Brady’s principal role by that time was that of garrison duty at Arlington Heights. The regiment was then ordered to join Patterson's Army on July 6^th, was involved in skirmishing near Martinsburg, Virginia, on July 12^th and near Bunker Hill, Virginia on July 15^th. During one skirmish Brady received a severe injury to his leg and was returned to hospital care near Washington, DC. He was mustered out with his Regiment at New York City on August 5, 1861 at the expiration of its term.

After 13 years Brady returned to Ireland to financially benefit from a family Trust Deed, but instead found himself heir to an action for recovery of an unsettled suit. As such, he decided to leave and follow his father and 3 sisters to Sydney, Australia.

After spending exactly 60 days aboard the “Great Britain”, he arrived at Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne on August 14, 1862.

Launched on July 19^th 1843 and two years in outfitting, the “Great Britain” was the most luxurious steamship afloat’ having cabins for 350 passengers. She was 322 feet long, had a 50.6 foot beam width, weighed 3,270 tons, had a four cylinder steam engine turning a single propeller and could make 9 knots of speed.

In December 1850 she was, reconditioned, fitted with new engines, two funnels athwartships, four masts and accommodations for 50-1st and 680-3rd class passengers.

In 1855 the “Great Britain” was utilized for military purposes, but in 1857 she returned to commercial use.

She began a single round voyage between Liverpool and New York on May 1, 1852 and between Liverpool and Australia on August 18, 1852.

The “Great Britain” made 47 round trip voyages, of which 32 were between Liverpool, or London, and Australian ports like Melbourne.

The voyage that Brady sailed on to reach Australia was the “Great Britain’s” 22^nd voyage; leaving Liverpool on June 15, 1862, making the trip in exactly 60 days with a compliment of 165 crew members and 544 paying passengers and arriving at Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, Australia on August 14, 1862.

After a few weeks in Melbourne he walked all the way to New South Wales and upon arriving, at age 26, joined the New South Wales Police Mounted Corps; on January 5, 1863.

His assigned post was the western district of Carcoar, today's Bathurst, and on March 1, 1874 he was promoted to Senior Constable. Brady at one time was also said to have served as a counsellor, in Carcoar. In 1868 Brady married Hanna Kenny in Melbourne and they lived with his family in Carcoar, Oberon and Condobolin, New South Wales until his discharge in 1881; moving then, to Sydney.

After returning from a two year visit to America, Brady and his family returned to Sydney, where Brady died at 84 years of age; on October 17, 1914. Edward John Brady was buried in Waverly Cemetery, New South Wales, Roman Catholic Section 17, grave number 701.